Aftermarket or OEM parts?
When it comes to finding replacement parts after an accident, making a modification to the vehicle, or because the car is no longer in production, it always becomes a bit tricky to decide whether to get aftermarket or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts. But not worry, we have the answer!
Aftermarket Parts
Any part that is not sourced from the car’s original maker is considered to be an aftermarket part. If it is a direct replacement part, it will not void your car’s warranty, which is really good to know if you recently made the purchase and got into an accident. There are a lot of companies that make parts that function the same, or in some cases, the parts are better than the original, so keep a look out for them when doing your research.
Pros:
- Less expensive
- A lot of money will be spent after an accident, when modifying your vehicle, or looking around for parts for your car after it has stopped being produced, so why not save money when you can?
- If the part does seem too good to be true (in terms of price), make sure to question the quality
- More variety
- There are hundreds of companies that make aftermarket parts, so you will always have more options no matter where you go
- Some specialize in specific parts, and other companies liek NAPA make almost every car part that you can think of
- Better availability
- You can walk into a gas station, a mechanic shop, or an auto parts store and they are sure to have the part that you need
- Quality can be equal to or greater than OEM parts
- Take brake pads for example – manufacturers make them so that there is a balance between cost, durability, noise levels, and performance. If you want better performance and don’t mind the extra noise when stopping, then aftermarket is the better way to go
Cons:
- Quality varies greatly
- “You pay for what you’re getting” – low price = lower quality, high price = higher quality, some parts have such a high reputation due to the lower quality materials that are used to make them
- Overwhelming selection
- More isn’t always better, and for the consumer more choices isn’t always better. They feel pressured and make a decision they might come to regret later
- Consult your mechanic for advise or simply stick to an OEM part when the price differences aren’t that significant
- May not have a warranty
- The reason why some parts are offered at a lower cost can be sometimes the reason why they don’t have warranty for them
OEM Parts
Any parts that are made directly by the manufacturer is considered to be an OEM part. These parts are an identical match to the ones that came off the assembly line to make your car.
Pros:
- Ease of choosing your part
- You will only really have one option for the part that you need, so no matter where you go you should always be able to find it
- No assessing different brands and prices
- Higher quality
- The OEM part will work exactly the way the current part does, so there is that peace of mind and familiarity with the way it works
- Comes with a warranty
- Most automakers back their product with a one-year warranty and if you get the vehicle repaired by a dealer they’ll usually stand by their labor as well
Cons:
- More expensive
- “When it comes to bodywork, OEM parts tend to cost about 60 percent more” ~Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI)
- Purchases exclusive to certain places
- Most people go to their dealerships to buy thier car parts, even though they can be bought online
- Requesting parts from your mechanic may mean the amount of time to fix the problem/make the modification/etc. is longer
- Quality may not be the best
- You may just be paying for the name and not the quality – some aftermarket parts are better or in some cases equal to OEM parts (in terms of quality)
Final Thoughts
Whether its aftermarket or OEM parts, on the surface both may appear to satisfy your problem, but they surely are different. In certain instances OEM parts are good and in others aftermarket is the way to go. It depends on a couple of key factors – the reason you need the parts (collision/modification/car is out of production years, etc), the amount of money you are willing to spend, and if quality is something that really is important to you or not, among other things. Keep in mind, if you do request OEM parts, some insurance companies ask you to pay an additional fee. Check with your insurance beforehand, just to make sure you are paying for what you really need instead of paying more for something that could have saved money on.
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Since you made it this far, why not check out our blog post about car modifications? Who knows what ideas you can get! https://zerolimits2021.com/friday-spotlight-feature-project-cars-a-deep-dive-into-what-makes-the-perfect-project-car/
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